Golf axial club with a vacuum electroplated layer on the surface

ABSTRACT

The invention is directed to a golf axial club with a vacuum electroplated layer on the surface. The club has a base pipe made of fiber compound material covered by a layer of plastic material. An outer layer on the plastic material is a metal formed by vacuum electroplating. The metal layer is covered by a transparent layer for protection.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

[0001] This invention is a golf axial club with a vacuum electroplated layer on the surface. It contains a base pipe made of fiber compound material. The outer layer of the base pipe is covered by a bottom layer of plastic material. The outer layer of the bottom layer has a metal layer made by vacuum electroplated method. The outer layer of the electroplated layer is covered by a transparent layer as a protection. This invention uses a vacuum electroplated method to form the electroplated layer on the surface of the axial club. It is different from the coated layer of traditional clubs. The electroplated layer makes the surface to be very beautiful and have a unique feature. Such a handling approach reduces the torsion that the axial club has when it is in use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS

[0002] This invention is related to golf clubs, especially a golf axial club with a vacuum electroplated layer on the surface.

[0003] Nowadays, most axial clubs used in golf games are made of fiber compound material such as carbon fiber. The production method is to use the pre-soaked fiber piece or fiber bundle made of resin to wind around the core of the club to form a pipe. Then, this part is heated and hardened. Once the heating process is finished, the core will be removed and form a prototype. Then, smoothen the surface of the prototype so that the coating process can start. Use the coating layer to decorate the surface and bring about the finished axial club.

[0004] Most of the traditional axial clubs have resin or paint coating on their surfaces. However, resin or paint can be easily scratched or damaged. Moreover, the color and quality usually do not match with the metal club head.

[0005] In addition, when the club hits a golf ball, the axial club will turn into an arc and deflect. Moreover, it will result in torsion. The torsion of club will lead the hitting surface of club to deflect and result in the situation for the ball to fly to an unintended direction. Some traditional axial clubs have been added more fiber compound material or metallic fiber to reduce the degree of torsion. Nevertheless, such a production method requires a higher cost.

[0006] The purpose of this invention is to provide a golf axial club with a vacuum electroplated layer on the surface. Such golf clubs are very beautiful in appearance and have a special kind of touch. The metallic sheen matches very well with the club head.

[0007] Another purpose of this invention is to provide a golf axial club with a vacuum electroplated layer on the surface to reduce the torsion when the club hits the ball.

[0008] In order to reach the goals described above, this invention provides a golf axial club with a vacuum electroplated layer on the surface. Such an invention includes a base pipe made of made of fiber compound material. The outer layer of the base pipe is covered by a bottom layer of plastic material. The outer layer of the bottom layer has a metal layer made by vacuum electroplated method. The outer layer of the electroplated layer is covered by a transparent layer as a protection.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS

[0009] Please refer to FIG. 1. It is the sectional drawing of the golf axial club in practice. This axial club includes a base pipe (10) made of carbon fiber (or other fiber compound material or a mixture of different fiber compound material). The outer layer of the base pipe is covered by a bottom layer of plastic material (20). The outer layer of the bottom layer (20) has a metal electroplated layer (30). This layer has the thickness of 4-5 μ and it is made by vacuum electroplated method on the outer layer (20). The material used in this example is titanium and it can be replaced by metals such as gold, silver, nickel, chromium. This electroplated layer (30) is covered by a transparent layer (40) as a protection. The paint used in this example is the transparent polish lacquer.

[0010] The manufacturing method of the axial club mentioned above and the equipment required are as follows. First, use the existing techniques to produce the carbon fiber base pipe (10). Then, paint the base of the base pipe (10). This is to spray or paint plastic paints (two times of primer paint and one time of baked paint) to the surface of the base pipe (10). Then, place the base pipe into the oven so that the paint mentioned above can be hardened and form a smooth bottom layer (20). This process makes the rugged surface smooth and then the electroplated process can begin. FIG. 2 is the equipment (50) used for the vacuum electroplating process. This equipment has a cabin (51). On both the right and left of the cabin (51), there are door lids (52) in the shape of a hood.

[0011] Inside of each door lid, several racks (53) are arranged in a ring shape. Each rack (53) can be used for several club prototypes to be erected and wait for electroplating. When the door lid (52) is closed, all the prototypes can be lock ed. Inside of the cabin (51). After that, the air in the cabin (51) will gradually be drawn out until the degree of vacuity reaches 10⁴N/m². Then, appropriate amount of inert gas will be injected into the cabin before the vacuum electroplating procedure starts. As shown in FIG. 3, the wall of the cabin (51) has a pair of positive electrode (54) and a negative electrode (55). The positive electrode (54) has the metals to be electroplated (titanium in this case). Once the electric current goes through, the ionized titanium ion will travel to the direction of negative electrode (55) because of the magnetic pull from the magnetic equipment (56) located in the back of the positive electrode (54). Then, the titanium ion will be collided and attached to the surface of the prototype (60) located in between the positive electrode and negative electrode. In the electroplating process, the rack (53) holding the prototype (60) will rotate and bring the prototype (60) into the same motion so that all surface of the prototype can be evenly plated by the titanium ion. After a set period of time, a vacuum electroplated layer (30) will be form on the smooth bottom layer (20). Finally, spray or paint a layer of transparent polish lacquer on the electroplated layer (30) to form of a transparent layer of protection (40). Then, the axial club is finished.

[0012] The metallic sheen from the vacuum electroplated layer (30) gives the axial club a special feature different from the feeling from the resin or paint layer. Once a golf club is assembled, the axial club and the metal club head create a very good visual effect and this will increase the value of this product. Moreover, the electroplated layer (30) of the metal material can reduce torsion when the club is in use and lower the deviation when the club hits a golf ball. 

1. This invention is a golf axial club with a vacuum electroplated layer on its surface. Such an axial club includes: A base pipe made of carbon fiber compound material: A bottom layer of plastic material, covering the outer layer of the base pipe. A vacuum electroplated layer made of metal through a method of vacuum electroplating onto the outer side of the bottom layer. A transparent layer, covering the outer side of the electroplated layer.
 2. The same as the vacuum electroplated axial club as mentioned in claim
 1. The material of the base pipe is carbon fiber.
 3. The same as the vacuum electroplated axial club as mentioned in claim
 1. The material of the vacuum electroplated layer is titanium.
 4. The same as the vacuum electroplated axial club as mentioned in claim
 1. The material of the transparent protection layer is transparent polish lacquer. 